Aug 18, 2026, 03:30 PM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally dismissed a 15-point Gaza peace initiative presented by US President Donald Trump, reiterating that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed.

Addressing his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" endorsed by Hamas in late July. He affirmed that the military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and would persist in neutralizing emerging security threats.

The decision underscores growing friction between Washington and Israel, despite reports that Israeli forces have scaled back offensive operations under US pressure. Facing an upcoming general election on October 27, Netanyahu continues to balance demands from hardline coalition allies against strategic ties with the White House.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald.

Iran and Oman have established geographical coordinates for a designated commercial transit corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian diplomatic officials. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that drafting of the bilateral arrangement is in its "final stage," though he warned that the accord alone cannot guarantee maritime safety without an end to third-party interference.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that fully reopening the strategic waterway remains "subject to other conditions," citing demands for war damage reparations.

Security concerns along the corridor persist alongside the diplomatic talks. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported two explosions near an oil tanker operating off the Omani coastline. UKMTO confirmed that the vessel and its crew were unharmed, with no environmental damage detected.

Sources: BBC News, France24, STV News, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.

A court in Stuttgart has convicted a 30-year-old Ukrainian national of espionage and preparing sabotage for Russian intelligence, involving the dispatch of GPS tracking devices from Germany to Ukraine.

The ruling comes as German security agencies examine more than 100 suspected foreign state-backed hybrid incidents across the federal states. Authorities report a wide range of hostile activity, including drone incursions over critical transport and military hubs, physical infrastructure disruptions, and targeted digital disinformation ahead of regional elections.

According to security officials, covert networks are circulating fabricated videos and deceptive materials to undermine candidates from the Christian Democratic Union, Social Democratic Party, Greens, and Free Democratic Party, while leaving the Alternative for Germany largely unaffected. Officials warn these coordinated physical and digital efforts seek to polarize public discourse and destabilize democratic institutions.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, DW, FAZ